A long-serving Chineham councillor has slammed what he claims is an opposition bid to undermine him in the run-up to the borough council elections in May.
Independent Martin Biermann says comments made in a Conservative Party campaign leaflet are "false" and "misleading".
The leaflet posted through doors in Chineham says Cllr Biermann is "out of touch" with residents after calling for alternate weekly bin collections, which he denies saying.
In the Conservative’s Intouch leaflet, their candidate, John Downes, is quoted saying: “I could not believe my eyes – it’s a real slap in the face for the people of Chineham.
“We must keep the weekly collections.
“I profoundly disagree with the idea of having stinking bins outside your door for a fortnight – it’s unhygienic.
“It’s not a new method, it’s a failed method.”
But Cllr Biermann said his views on bin collections expressed at borough council meetings had been taken out of context.
He said: "I have never, ever advocated alternate weekly collections.
“I have said that we should look at the whole gambit of things being done elsewhere.
“If it is a real, genuine, legitimate and scientific exercise, then we would look at what other authorities are doing, including alternate weekly collections."
He claims the Tories are trying to oust him and possible stop him becoming mayor.
He said: "I see some sort of link with their aggression towards Phil Heath and now there seems to be a pattern with the aggression put on me.
“It's politicising the role of the mayor, which I deplore.
"The campaign is unworthy of a serious political party. If the best they can do is character assassination of a person, then it is just dirty politics, which I would prefer not to see in this borough."
But Conservative group leader Robert Donnell defended the comments in the leaflet and said the attack was justified.
He said the wording of the leaflet correctly states Cllr Biermann’s position in the debate.
He said: "I have not seen anything that has gone out in Chineham that is not fair or above board.
“We will campaign hard to make sure a Conservative councillor sits in Chineham.
“That has nothing to do with the mayoralty whatsoever.
“We are not politicising the position of the mayor. We never have. If Cllr Biermann is voted in, he will be the most senior councillor and I will personally vote for him to be mayor.
“Our position is clear – we want a Conservative councillor in Chineham.”
Residents go to the polls on May 5.
Cllr Biermann is also pitted against Simon Broad from Labour.
The successful candidate will work alongside two other Chineham Conservative councillors, who are not up for election this year.
